HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP, N.J. & WAUKESHA, Wis.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Capital Health and GE
Healthcare announced today the first Discovery NM 750b was installed at
Capital Healths New Jersey Hopewell medical center. Capital Health is a
central New Jersey
region leader in advanced medicine, with significant investments in advanced
technologies and its medical staff.
“We are very pleased to offer women in our community this
new, highly sophisticated, test that can help detect breast cancer at its
earliest stages, which, as we all know, can be critical to the success of
treatment,” said Al Maghazehe, president and CEO of Capital Health. “We remain
committed to bringing patients in this region the latest technological advances
to enhance their healthcare options.”
“This innovative technology overcomes some of the challenges
we currently face with breast cancer detection, particularly in women with
dense breast tissue, and allows us to offer our patients improved medical
care,” said Dr. Yaakov Applbaum, medical director of the Radiology Department
at Capital Health. “It will also be useful in the early detection of breast
cancer in women who are at a high risk for the disease.”
Breast cancer detection is sometimes difficult, as breast
density in varying degrees can overlap with lesions, making them harder to find
with traditional x-ray mammography; and interpretation can vary among
physicians, which can often lead to recommendations for additional tests.
Molecular Breast Imaging, or MBI, is less susceptible to
breast density, since the method involves a radioactive tracer that has a high
affinity for metabolically active tumors, and two specialized detectors imaging
the breast from opposing angles. MBI has been shown in clinical studies to
outperform mammography for early detection, and in finding more cancers.1
The GE Discovery
NM 750b scanner features dual
detectors with CZT technology. The systems innovative detector design
facilitates increased imaging sensitivity compared to conventional Nuclear
Medicine “Gamma” cameras. In addition, image contrast and quality represent
significant improvements over conventional systems. Imaging of the breast can
be performed with only light immobilization and without the need of full
compression. The Discovery NM 750b is intended to become part of a
comprehensive arsenal of advanced imaging technologies that includes PET (Positron
Emission Tomography), Spiral CT and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).
“We believe that offering MBI with its ability to detect
certain cases of breast cancer earlier will make Capital Health the premier
destination in the area for breast cancer diagnosis,” said Applbaum. “Molecular
imaging is being added to the already comprehensively equipped Womans Imaging
Center at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell, which includes two GE
digital mammography units, two GE LOGIQ* E9 Ultrasound machines, and a 3Tesla
Magnet for Breast MRI.”
About Capital Health:
Capital Health is the regions leader in advanced medicine, with significant
investments in innovative technologies and experienced physicians. Comprised of
two hospitals in Mercer County and the Capital Health -Hamilton outpatient facility, Capital Health
has three times received Magnet recognition for nursing excellence. Capital
Health is a growing healthcare organization having just opened a new,
state-of-the-art hospital in Hopewell Township, N.J. and completed a significant expansion of services at
its Regional Medical
Center in Trenton.
ABOUT GE HEALTHCARE
GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that
are shaping a new age of patient care. Our broad expertise in medical imaging
and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems,
drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies, performance
improvement and performance solutions services help our customers to deliver
better care to more people around the world at a lower cost. In addition, we
partner with healthcare leaders, striving to leverage the global policy change
necessary to implement a successful shift to sustainable healthcare systems.
Our “healthymagination” vision for the future invites the
world to join us on our journey as we continuously develop innovations focused
on reducing costs, increasing access and improving quality around the world.
Headquartered in the United
Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a unit of General
Electric Company (NYSE: GE). Worldwide, GE Healthcare employees are committed
to serving healthcare professionals and their patients in more than 100
countries. For more information about GE Healthcare, visit our website at www.gehealthcare.com.
1 Rhodes D, Carrie B. Hruska, Stephan W. Phillips, Dana H.
Whaley, and Michael K.Oconnor, Dedicated Dual-Head Gamma Imaging for Breast
Cancer Screening in Women with Mammographically Dense Breasts, Radiology
100625; Published online November 2, 2010, doi 10.1148/radiol.10100625
Posted by Sean Fenske, Editor-in-Chief, MDT
